Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has announced a new version of Ubuntu Core for Internet of Things (IoT) and edge devices.
The fully containerized Ubuntu Core 22 variant, aligned with Ubuntu 22.04 long-term support (LTS) through 2023, offers a new embedded operating system paradigm that is inherently reliable and secure, stated Canonical in a blog post.
Ubuntu Linux review: The granddaddy of desktop Linux Mint vs Ubuntu: Which one is better?
Additionally, the new release includes a fully preemptible kernel with a low-touch OS, extending real-time compute support for time-sensitive industrial, telecommunications, automotive, and robotics applications.
As for security, Ubuntu Core 22 builds on Ubuntu Core’s advanced safety features, including but not limited to, secure boot and full disk encryption. Applications are also isolated from one another and from the system at large, permitting a high level of fault tolerance.
Ubuntu Core 22 also maintains the same partition layout as Ubuntu Core 20, ensuring backward compatibility. Commenting on performance improvements, Canonical reported optimized footprint and reduced memory usage for Ubuntu Core 22 to make up for limited storage and CPU resources in conventional IoT and embedded devices.
“Our goal at Canonical is to provide secure, reliable open source everywhere – from the development environment to the cloud, down to the edge and to devices. With this release, and Ubuntu’s real-time kernel, we are ready to expand the benefits of Ubuntu Core across the entire embedded world,” said Mark Shuttleworth, Canonical CEO.
Deliver a modernised end-user experience that pays for itself
Start modernising PC lifecycle management today
KMC Controls’ COO Brad Kehler commented, “KMC Controls’ range of IoT devices are purpose-built for mission-critical industrial environments. Security is paramount for our customers. We chose Ubuntu Core for its built-in advanced security features and robust over-the-air update framework.”
“Ubuntu Core comes with 10 years of security update commitment which allows us to keep devices secure in the field for their long life. With a proven application enablement framework, our development teams can focus on creating applications that solve business problems,” added Kehler.
